Have you ever seen the Anthony Hopkins/Debra Winger flick "Shadowlands"? No? It was nominated for some Academy Awards in 1993, you uncultured swine! Well, if you saw it, you've probably ruined this play for yourself, which adapts William Nicholson's excellent film script to the stage. It's about the real-life relationship between British author C.S. Lewis and American poet Joy Davidman. This production is put on by the Hong Kong Players and is directed by Adam Harris; snap up your tickets, lit lovers!
Originally conceived in London and now taking the Hong Kong theatre scene by storm, Liars' League is a monthly live literary night featuring professional and amateur actors performing original pieces of short fiction—written specifically for the event by local and international authors—in front of an audience. Now in its fourth month, each event carries a theme; this time, it's "Sink & Swim." Canadian folk collective The Homestead will perform a break set, and as always, it's free.
The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre's first event in their 2013/14 season is a performance of Anton Chekhov's final (and some might say finest) play; a work both farcical and tragic. Directed by Ceri Sherlock, the story follows a struggling aristocratic woman as she returns to her home in 19th Century Russia to find that her beloved cherry orchard is being sold off. Will she and her family accept the realities of a rapidly changing society, or fight for what's theirs? Performed in Cantonese but with Chinese and English surtitles.
The Hong Kong Repertory Theatre performs the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire, which was recently adapted into a movie of the same name. The play charts the difficulties of couple Becca (stage and TV star Louisa So) and Howie (stage veteran Poon Chan-leung) after losing their four-year-old son in a traffic accident, and Becca's unexpected friendship with the teenage driver involved (Ling Man-lung). Various showtimes.
Unlock Dancing Plaza presents a completely novel cross-media trilogy, fusing dance, drama, fashion, music and video together to bring the audience inside this free-form performance. While the first chapter was an interactive exercise through the rooms and halls of the Foo Tak artist commune in Wan Chai, the second instalment takes place in a more traditional theatre venue and features composer Jing Wong, performer Abby Chan and video artist Maurice Lai. For tickets, register at www.unlock.com.hk.
If you're down with supporting homegrown Hong Kong talent, why not start with those still growing? The Faust International Youth Theatre opened its doors in 1999 with the aim of exposing young locals to performance art, staging both classics and newly penned plays for their ever-expanding annual festival.
Ever heard of Florence Foster Jenkins? She was an operatic soprano who sold out shows in New York and was absolutely convinced of her greatness, despite being universally ridiculed and critically panned for a lack of rhythm, pitch, tone, proper Italian pronunciation and, well, just overall shit singing. Think Rebecca Black in the 1920s, and you're almost there. Jenkins' legend lives on through Peter Quilter's hilarious comedy, directed for the stage by Candice Moore through this five-night (and weekend matinée) run. Tickets are selling out, so act fast.
The Shadow Players are the newest theatre company in town, and for their debut performance they've put a distinctly local twist on the classic Molière comedy "Les Femmes Savantes." Julian Lamb directs a story about a group of tai-tais who are under the spell of a pompous intellectual fraud named C.Y. Tang. When a mother intends for her daughter to marry the blowhard, young Henriette rebels in favor of her more humble and practical beau Sebastian.
Playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis spins a yarn set in the darkly comedic, time-transcending world between heaven and hell, reimagining the ultimate fate of the New Testament's most infamous sinner. Directed by Brad Powers, the production stars Lester Clark, Harry Oram, Nicole Garbellini, Neil Runcieman and Alex Sommersville.
Get Real Theatre Company presents an interactive murder mystery dinner theatre, wherein restaurant and stage are one, actors mingle between tables and scenes play out between courses. Directed by Shiona Carson and with a professional cast of five, the ticket price includes the show, a welcome drink and a four-course meal. In this dinner, the martinis won't be the only thing with a twist. Will you be able to guess the killer? We're going with cholesterol. Okay, that's enough. For more information and tickets visit www.getrealtheatre.com.hk.
